ATTENUANTS — BALSAMS. 35 



tines unchanged ; by keeping they also lose 

 much of their strength, particularly when 

 the ingredients are evaporable in the com- 

 mon temperature of the atmosphere, which 

 is the case with camphor, ammonia, essen- 

 tial oils, &c. But the most serious inconve- 

 nience which arises from giving balls that 

 have been kept until they become very 

 hard, is, that they are liable to stick in the 

 throat or gullet, and thereby endanger the 

 horse's life : indeed, I have known horses 

 destroyed in this way. 



When balls are composed of very stimu- 

 lating ingredients, the horse should drink a 

 little water before they are given, to prevent 

 too strong an action upon the stomach : it is 

 better to give the water before the medicine, 

 as a horse can seldom be induced to drink 

 immediately after. 



When arsenic, sublimate, or any of those 

 corrosive medicines are given, a considera- 

 ble quantity of water gruel or decoction of 

 linseed should be given before the ball. 

 Balls cannot be conveniently given, unless 

 wrapped up in paper ; but for this purpose 

 the softest and thinnest should be chosen, 



BALSAMS. Balsams are generally fluid. 



c 6 



